Saint Joseph Catholic Church

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"As the journey of Advent continues, as we prepare to celebrate the nativity of Christ, John the Baptist's call to conversion sounds out in our communities. It is a pressing invitation to open our hearts and to welcome the Son of God Who comes among us to make divine judgement manifest. The Father, writes St. John the Evangelist, does not judge anyone, but has entrusted the power of judgement to the Son, because He is the Son of man.

Today the Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas of Myra (d. 346). Not much is known about this 4th century bishop, but that doesn't diminish his popularity around the world, both in the East and West. It is known that Nicholas was born in Lycia in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and died in 352 A.D. as the Bishop of Myra. All the stories that surround Nicholas illustrate that he practiced both the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. He was generous, strove to help the poor and disadvantaged, and worked tirelessly to defend the faith. His legends of generosity and a slip of the tongue from other languages has made St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas into today's Santa Claus.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published “Advancing the Needs of Black Catholic Young Adults,” a 16-page report that resulted from listening sessions with black Catholic young adults.

The report, posted on the US bishops’ website on December 3, identifies ten “issues within the national Catholic Church” and ten “issues within the black community.”

The first three national Catholic issues listed in the report are “no representation,” “too much focus on charity, not enough on social justice,” and “not talking about racism and white supremacy.” The first three issues within the black community are “gerontocracy,” “LGBTQ+ issues,” and “cliques / bullying / ostracizing.”

Addressing a recent meeting of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva called for a rethinking of international trade.

After discussing international financial debt, “the concept of ‘ecological debt,’” and the digital divide, the Holy See mission stated:

In pursuit of diversified economies that contribute to integral development, my Delegation would like to emphasize the need to rethink trade.

It is necessary to adopt a development-driven approach to trade that prioritizes using trade rules and market access to build productive capacities, reduce poverty, and foster inclusive economic diversification in developing countries.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, called on the leaders of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to work to foster peace in Ukraine.

In his remarks, made yesterday in Vienna, Archbishop Gallagher “welcomed OSCE guidance on combating hate crimes against Christians and called for even-handed approaches to all forms of intolerance,” Vatican News reported. “He also noted that freedom of religion or belief is the only fundamental freedom explicitly affirmed in the Helsinki Final Act, adding that tolerance alone does not constitute genuine freedom.”

Archbishop Gallagher also called for respect for the dignity of migrants and refugee, praised the OSCE for its efforts against human trafficking, and called for a ban on surrogate motherhood.

Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni, best known for his 1997 film Life Is Beautiful, met yesterday with Pope Leo XIV.

Together, they watched excerpts of Peter: A Man in the Wind, a monologue on St. Peter the Apostle produced in collaboration with Vatican media. The monologue will air on Italian state TV.

Before the screening, Pope Leo and Benigni discussed movies, St. Augustine, and Dante.

The Institute for the Works of Religion (Institutum pro Operibus Religionis, or IOR), colloquially known as the Vatican bank, published its first sustainability report yesterday.

“In 2024, the Institute continued to focus its activities on optimizing returns in full compliance with Catholic ethical principles, excluding any investment in companies involved in activities harmful to human life, the environment, or society,” the Institute stated, adding:

With net profit amounting to €31 million [$36.1M], the IOR generated a total economic value of €50 million [$58.3M], distributed among the Holy Father (27%), employees (30%), and suppliers (18%), retaining the remainder to ensure long-term sustainability.

Through the management of its clients’ assets, the Institute also created €157 million [$183M] in value, thereby reinforcing its dual social and financial vocation: supporting the Universal Church and increasing the value of entrusted assets.

The Vatican has announced the theme of the Preacher of the Papal Household’s Advent sermons: “Awaiting and hastening the coming of the day of God: Jubilee hope between waiting for the Lord and the universality of salvation.”

Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, will preach the sermons on the three Fridays of Advent in Paul VI Audience Hall, in the presence of Pope Leo, the Roman Curia, employees of the Vatican City State and the Vicariate of Rome. The papal preacher customarily preaches his sermons on the Fridays of Advent and Lent.